Guide rail for tables of apparatus for grinding, smoothing, and polishing plate or sheet glass and other similar materials



Nov. 5, 1929. c. HEUZE 1,734,036 GUIDE RAIL FOR TABLES OF APPARATUS FOR GRINDING,

' SMOOTHING, AND POLISHING PLATE OR SHEET GLASS AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS v Filed March 31, 1928 Figfi Patented Nov. 5 19 29 Unitas starts CHARLES HEUZE, E AUvELAis- BELeInM GUIDE EAIL FOR TAELEs 0E APPARATUS Eon GRINDING, SMooT IitG, AnnroL'IsH- ING PLATE on SHEET GLASS Ann o i-rEE S MILAR M TEnrALs.

Application filed March 31, 1928, Serial No.

In apparatus for grinding, smoothing and polishing plate glass and other similar materials, in which the tables are moved beneath tools which constantly perform the same work, these tables slide or roll on guide rails which must always remain on the same level in reference to each other, the least difference in level causing breakage of the plate glass or other materials to be treated. These guide rails are of great length (sometimes up to 250 meters) and are anchored at intervals in the masonry.

In order to avoid deformation of the guide rails due to variations of temperature, and

their getting out of order owing to the difference in their coefficient of expansion and the coeificient of expansion of their bed, this invention proposes the use of expansion oints at intervals between certain portions of the guide rails. These joints are preferably arranged alternately so as to prevent the'parts by means of which the tables are supported on said guide rails from passing simultaneously over two expansion joints; and they may consist for example of resilient metallic plates, which keep the portions in line with each other during their relative axial displacement.

The invention also proposes to arrange drip 0 trays for the oil below the expansion joints; and it finally proposes the use of cross-bars between the dilferent parallel guide rails, in order to form a rigid connection between them.

Further details and characteristics of the invention will become evident in the course of the description of the accompanying drawing, which represents, as an example, a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In said drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of guide rails fitted with expansion joints and cross bars according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a special construction for one of said expansion joints.

The tables 2 on which the materials to be treated are supported, roll or slide on guide rails 3, the length of which often reaches 250 meters. Since these guide rails are usually of metal and are fixed to the masonry, when 286,418, and in Belgium February 14, 1928.

the temperature varies slightly the difference in the coefficients of expansion of these guide rails and the masonry causes 'difierent expansions wh1ch, ow1ng to the=gu1dera1ls being fixed to the masonry, cause said guide railsto become distorted. To avoid this distortion,

which may cause a difference of level between the guide rails, the invention proposes to provide gaps 4 at intervals between different portions 3 of the same guide rail. left between the free ends of these lengths 5 is sufiicient to compensate the difierence of expansion due to the difference in the coef- The space ficients of expansion of the guide rails and the masonry to which they are fixed.

My invention proposes further to arrange, at the aid gaps, metallicplates 6 shaped or bowed so that they bend easily when the guide rails expand. These plates are fastened together and to the rail portions on each side of each gap 4: so as to rigidly connect them to gether at whatever distance apart they may be separated and thus prevent them from getting out of line with each other.

The invention also proposes to place at each gap d a tray 5 intended to catch the .oil trickling down from the sides of the guide rails. This tray 5 is fitted with a handle 5 to allow the tray to be easily removed to empty it of oil. To facilitate the fall of the oil into said tray 5, the transverse webs 3 of the rail portions on opposite sides of the expansion joint are given the Shape of a lip 3 so that the oil cannot creep up into the hollow 3 but is obliged to fall into the tray 5.

The invention further proposes to solidarizethe different guide rails on which the tables roll, by means of cross-bars such as 6', which keep them at the desired distance.

It is evident that the invention is not lim ited to the precise structural details shown, but that many modifications may be made in the shape, arrangement and constitution of its component parts, without exceeding the scope of the invention.

What I claim is;

1. "Guide rails for the tables of apparatus for grinding, smoothing and polishing plate glass, sheet glass and other similar materials, which tables are moved beneath tools which perform constantly the same Work, comprising a plurality of rail portions, and expansion joints between said portions, oil drip trays disposed beneath the expansion joints, and lips onthe transverse Webs of the guide rail portions situated on each side of an expansion joint, the said lips being located above the drip trays.

2. Guide rails for the tables of apparatus for grinding, smoothing and polishing plate glass, sheet glass and other similar materials, which tables are moved beneath tools which perform constantly the same Work, comprising a plurality of rail portions spaced slightly from one another, and curved metal plates fastened together and to the ends of the rail portions so as to produce a tubular mem-- her which conducts the oil that trickles down from said rail portions toward a receptacle located beneath them.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES HEUZE. 

